Bolloré Transport & Logistics unlocks localized, customized solutions with Power Platform

A closer look: The Gabon Tracking and Reporting App

The need—improve asset utilization and customer service simultaneously

In the autonomous port of Libreville, Bolloré Transport & Logistics Gabon manages a fleet of 700 containers on a massive, eight-hectare terminal. Clients use Bolloré Transport & Logistics’ containers to transport goods between client production and distribution centers.

The business approached Stéphane Collet-Manent, IT Africa Director of Bolloré Transport & Logistics, with dual priorities—improve service quality for clients and optimize the company’s utilization of domestic container assets. 

“We needed to enhance the workflow and management of these containers to improve the quality of service, avoid excessively long storage, and optimize the overall operation of the logistics, giving our customers the tools to manage their orders in real time,” shares Stéphane Collet-Manent. 

The solution—put swift, timely tracking in the hands of drivers with an easy-to-use app

To improve client service and container optimization, the company needed to track containers at every point in their journeys—client manufacturing location, loading to container, container on rails, container at terminal, container on boat, container unloading at distribution center, and so on. 

The group evaluated multiple solutions. IoT was too expensive and too complex. Scanning QR codes and utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to read and interpret were unreliable due to telecommunications quality. A “simple” solution was required.

Bolloré Transport & Logistics Gabon developed a proof of concept (PoC) for its IT department using Power Apps. It allows the position of containers to be tracked in real time. This enables up-to-the-minute, accurate information across the supply chain. Drivers use a smartphone app built to input basic but critical information at every transition while the client’s goods are aboard containers. Recording a unique code per container provides visibility into contents, owner, origin, destination, etc. The ability to use smartphones to capture data while on the terminal and on the go is a major plus. 

The solution met the initial dual priorities and so much more.

The outcome—significant utilization, client value, overall supply chain improvements, and opportunities for exponentially more

Clients can now track their goods through the supply chain and subsequently optimize valuable resources—labor, time, space. Clients can better manage inventories, improve working capital, and increase quality of service for the consumer. Bolloré Transport & Logistics created a customer portal so clients can see where goods are at any time, providing a much more accurate understanding of the receipt of goods and enabling clients to better plan their end of the supply chain.  

Bolloré Transport & Logistics utilized Power BI to create dashboards and reports to highlight overall service to clients. The company also uses another set of dashboards and reports for the back office to track current and emerging trends.  

The company has reduced damage by more efficiently loading containers and by understanding container contents. Understanding flow has reduced the transport of partially or fully empty containers. Container optimization is up and, as a result, carbon emissions are down. Carbon emission reduction is a major goal at Bolloré Transport & Logistics. Movements and positions of containers can be tracked in real time, enhancing customer service. Quantity and quality of shipping containers have increased.  

"Power Platform has the advantage of being able to be used from a smartphone, tablet, or PC, and, therefore, it provides all players in the supply chain with one tool and the same solution...completely integrated into our central systems, which contribute to the wealth of Power Platform in Africa,” explains Stéphane Collet-Manent, according to L’usineDigitale. 

"This POC aroused a strong appetite among our IT and business managers because they saw that the costs of producing this type of application were no longer insurmountable,” Julien Laudette, Digital Workplace Manager at Bolloré Transport & Logistics, told L’usineDigitale. “We had a lot of requests subsequently and many field applications have been implemented, notably in Senegal, South Africa, and Singapore."  

Interestingly, Bolloré Transport & Logistics initially piloted a slightly different process that relied on AI to scan, read, and record containers. As stated above, Gabon’s infrastructure cannot support this type of solution. So, while a potentially exciting solution, it was not a fit. However, the learnings from that part of the pilot are still invaluable. Stéphane Collet-Manent indicates that Bolloré Transport & Logistics sees enormous potential in expanding this use case to international carrier container tracking—tens of thousands of containers. The resulting improvements from wide-scale optimization and increased service quality are enormous..

Where does the path lead from here?

As an international multimodal specialist, it’s not surprising that Bolloré Transport & Logistics is pursuing multiple paths.  

Vertically, the company will pursue depth with the Power Platform suite with options such as testing AI on a large scale. It has had success with specific use cases and wants to explore greater application.  

Horizontally, it wants to spread winning solutions from one country, one continent to another, or even use Power Platform where appropriate for company-wide application.  

As Jean-Daniel Elbim puts it, “Bolloré Transport & Logistics is in 109 countries. We must have ambassadors everywhere to be able to meet operational needs that have not yet been met. We will have to introduce the Power Platform on all continents.”